The See's Candies 45-day strike ended Sunday with 650 production and warehouse workers in the Bay area voting overwhelmingly to accept a new five-year contract that includes increased wages, pensions, job training and a new seniority system. The union said the contract addresses all the major issues that led to the strike. Striking workers at the Burlingame and South San Francisco plants will return to work this week. "We are pleased that the strike has ended and that our members overwhelmingly accepted an agreement that brings them good gains and substantive improvements," said President Frank Hurt of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers International Union in a prepared statement. "We are gratified that company officials and our bargaining team were able to come together and construct a contract settlement that addresses the concerns of both parties."
See's Candies and Local Union 125 did not return repeated calls from the Daily Journal seeking additional comment and to specify the terms of the agreement.
Throughout the strike, the company has been cautious about making statements to the public.
Just last week the union was in a gridlock with the company and tensions were mounting over the company's last offer of a $950 a month pension plan - which was up just $50 from the last contract. The company also maintained a final wage increase of $1.30 an hour for certified candymakers, although union workers last week said their main contention was over pensions and not wages.
The company hired replacement workers during the strike, which began on September 21, and a number of union workers crossed the picket line. In an effort to prevent a slowdown in production throughout the holiday season - one of the company's busiest times - the company began recruiting full time workers during the strike. Still the workers maintained a round the clock picket line in front of the South San Francisco and Burlingame plants, and set up daytime boycott and leafleting stands in front of 15 retail stores throughout the Bay area.
"Our members displayed courage and a commitment to their union that we all should be proud of," said Donna Scarabo, financial secretary to Local 125 in the prepared statement. "Their determination made it possible to bring this unfortunate strike to an end. It is now time to put the pieces back together and work toward common goals."
Last Tuesday, See's Candies President Charles Huggins visited BCTGM International Headquarters in Maryland to meet with Hurt, a move the union said was a step forward in resolving the strike. It is still unknown as to whether the employees who were fired during the course of the strike will be rehired.
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